During the meeting, House Democrats, notably Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., displayed graphics of disabled persons they claimed would lose medical coverage under the proposed changes, as well as images
highlighting the rates of Medicaid reliance in the districts the Republican members of the committee represented. Disabled persons also
protested the hearing.
At issue are planned revisions to Medicaid that may come as part of the Republicans’ “big, beautiful bill.” The Energy and Commerce Committee faces the task of finding $880 billion in savings over 10 years in their portion of the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Medicaid portion of their section will save $625 billion and that the panel will likely exceed the $880 billion target for total savings, according to
The Hill.
On the downside, the CBO estimated that the changes would lead to 10.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage by 2034 and that 7.6 million would ultimately be left uninsured. Democrats didn't mention that the same study shows that half of that estimate comes from recipients without verified citizenship or those who may lose coverage over work requirements, which will not take effect until 2028.
Political theater: The victims who aren't
Most of the GOP’s planned reforms involve changes to the eligibility requirements for the program and Democrats have seized on the worst theoretical outcomes to voice their opposition.
Ahead of the markup, Energy and Commerce Chairman Rep.
Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., released the text of the legislation and a statement rejecting Democratic concerns as part of a “fear campaign.” Indeed, most of the more vitriolic Democratic claims do not appear to survive scrutiny of the actual text.
“This bill refocuses Medicaid on mothers, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly—not illegal immigrants and capable adults who choose not to work. It is reckless that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle claimed an artificially high number in alleged coverage loss just so they can fearmonger and score political points,”
he said.
During the Tuesday markup of the Energy and Commerce panel’s portion of the bill, Democrats pointed to select parts of those CBO projections as a basis to warn about the prospect of millions losing coverage. Left-wing opposition during the markup included considerable political theater, such as the display of images of disabled persons whom they asserted would lose coverage under the plan.